The Oyo State Government has dismissed as false the claim by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that the Federal Government gave the state N50 billion for the reconstruction and upgrade of the Ibadan airport.
The state government, in a statement on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the Federal Government’s approval for the project was granted on the condition that it would be executed at no cost to the Federal Government.
He said the presidential minute on the proposal submitted by Makinde for the reconstruction and upgrade of the airport was: “Approved at no cost to the Federal Government.”
He said the records were available to both the Presidency and the Oyo State Government, describing Wike’s statement as untrue and unfortunate.
The FCT minister had on Monday, during an appearance on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout, said President Bola Tinubu had supported Makinde with about N50 billion for the upgrade of the Ibadan airport.
Wike said the intervention was part of the support extended to members of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 who supported Tinubu’s 2023 presidential bid.
But the Oyo government said the airport transformation had been fully financed by the state, in line with the Federal Government’s approval.
According to Olanrewaju, the project covers the expansion and strengthening of the runway, upgrading of airfield lighting and navigational systems, improvements to the apron, enhanced aviation safety installations and the construction of supporting infrastructure, including the dualisation of the Airport Road.
He added that work was also ongoing on a modern international terminal designed to substantially increase passenger and cargo handling capacity.
“Every component of the upgrade has been executed and funded solely by Oyo State,” he said.
The government further challenged Wike’s claim, saying it was not based on any Federal Executive Council decision, presidential approval or statutory aviation infrastructure process.
It said aviation infrastructure funding was subject to due-process channels involving the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other relevant regulatory bodies, adding that the processes were transparent, traceable and publicly verifiable.
“None of them reflects the figure Mr Wike has circulated,” the statement said.
The government accused the minister of making a claim without supporting documentation and warned against what it described as the politicisation of development projects and government finances.
It said misinformation of such magnitude could erode public trust if left unchallenged.
“Let it be stated unambiguously: The Federal Government did not give Oyo State N50 billion for the Ibadan Airport upgrade,” the statement said.
The state government urged public officials to exercise restraint and responsibility in their public statements, insisting that claims concerning public projects and finances should be supported by verifiable facts.
The latest exchange follows Wike’s comments that the Tinubu administration had provided substantial support to members of the former G5, including financial support for Makinde’s airport project.